Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-04-12

As the press OF the state has Oeen nctlve anu
| instrumental In placing before the people. in
| aowery and exaggerated language. all the cir
cumstances. facts and deeds relating to the
course of the Camden faction. aud has be-
rated misrepresented and villifed every act
and deed of the opposing faction. it is only inst
and equitable TO the course pursued by onr two
heroic and worthy delegates. Messrs. Lucas
and Chew. that some light should be thrown
| upon the true condition of political affairs in
this county and the real sentiments of the peo-
pie given to the public with proper, Impair
lial. honest intention.
Throughout the whole canvass and election
of successor to Mr.. Lucas. the Camden fol-
lowers resorted to all the chicanery and mis-
representation within reach of their extrav-
agant dishonesty. Having nearly the whole
press on their side. bought and hired for their
use. they used 1t means to place their M
just comparisons aud distortions of truth be-
fore the people. magnifying and exaggerating
/ every point in their favor and CONTEMPORARY
ignoring and undertaking the just and true
| merits Of the course of the so-called skickers."
This is perfectly natural, because their per-
sonal interests point that way. but when they
prise the principal ingredients of their compo-
sition. it is little inconsistent with the meth
DDS they pursued in the late election.
Their great effort was to mislead and confuse
the public in>regard to the true sentiment ex-
listing here. Through their correspondents
ridiculous and unjust comparisons between this
special election and the general election in No.
yembcr. 1884, were made. One Geo p. Ser
correspondent of the Wheeling Register. hired
and sent here two weeks before the election for
the express purpose of making beautiful pic
| tire of the Camden side and a cloudy. muddy
picture Of the kickers' SIDE made every effort
to execute his work well. and exercised his
prolific brain ~. with the ingenuity of de-
parage the other. He howlcd "true Democ-
racy," party usages" aud party principles"
| to the people. and condemned and bemoaned
the course of Mr.. Camden's opposers who he
iziYI nd
| tually giving the State over to the Republicans.
| We will see farther on in this letter how adj
mirably this "true Democracy" practice what
| they preach. This correspondent informed the
public that the anti-Camdcnites succeeded in
electing majority C3l) of the delegates to the
nominating convention held on March 18th. by
a vote of $50. and that the Camdenites cast a
vote of 436. carrying two precincts and clecting
| ~ delegates to the convention. Then. he says.
this shows a shortage in the Democratic vote
of the county of 1858. compared with the
vote at the general election. endcnvo thus
to lead the public to believe that the kickers
had lost over 1900 votes from their former
ranks. If this were true why didn't the 1900
vote with the Camden faction and thus carry
| the election for delegates. The truth lie. 1t be-
| ing only a special election. many of the voters
did not turn out. and friends of both factions
stayed at home. Had the whole vote turned
| out. the result wonld have been in proportion
| to the figures given above. and the vile often
| sive kickcrs, as they are called by the silvcry.
truthful tongues "a of the Camdemites. would
|
| greater than to 8.
| The convention was held and nominated Col.
Frank Beckwith. prominent lawyer and
gentleman of high integrity and of old-time
| Democracy. to succeed Mr.. Lucas in the Leg
islature. In this convention. the twelve Cam
den delegates. although they had howlcd party
usages and principles to the people. refused to
act with the majority of the delegates, and alb
solutely opposed and voted no on every ques-
ton except that of adjournment. Yet they
tell us the minority ought to act with the ma
jority. Why didn't they do so in this case
oh consistency. thou art jewel" But thou
art not to be found in the Camden ranks. The
actions of this convention by the same cores
pondent of the Register. were bent. twisted and
distorted out of recognition, and the same char
actcristic misrepresentation by the 81 true De-
mocracy" faction were sent out to the people
us truth.
For a few days after the nomination of Col.
Beckwth. It was plain to be seen that the Cam
denites were greatly discounted and consider
ably chagrined by the defeat. Their portly
correspondent, Sergeant. with his portentions
| brain, did everything in his power to modify
| and reconcile the defeat before the people. He
showed them that. If the true sentiment Of the
people had been represented. Camden can
didate would have been nominated. and every
| thing would have been in accordance with
| "partv usages;" and that the twelve Camden
delegates who refused to vote and act with the
majority In the convention. had done right bnt
| that the thirty-one who had nominated an anti
| Camden man had gone wofully wrong. It is
singular coincidence. that Mr.. Camden should
have twelve :. kickcrs" opposing him in the
| Legislature and twelve - kiclxers" favoring
| him in this convention. Yet such is the case.
| The next thing VIC hear of Mr.. Camdens
| Democrats. they arc secretly meeting and ne
gotisting with leading Republicans to induce
them to nominate a candidate. and assuring
\ them of the support of '.true Democrats
The plan is q very plausible one to the Repub-
licans. and the combination more than hope
Mr.. Cumden's true Democracy" Accord
| ingly. s. III. Higginbotham. Esq, prosperous
| farmer and a worthy gentleman. Is announced
as the Republican nominee. The contest be-
gins. The Republicans use every means to
! muster out full vote. and the leaders of " true
Democracy" assist them. Col Beckwith and
| his friends all opprobriously known as kick
| ers." do all in their power to secure his cleo
ton. The contest is warm and bittcr-Rcpub-
| licans and I" true Democracy" on one side. and
| the j" kickers" on the other. The result is o
ers" should beat the Republicans and Camden
| tics combined. is not speaking much for Mr..
Camden's following in this county
On the day of the election. leading Cam
denite. who was a candidate for the State Sem
| ate last fall. lent his office to the Republicans
| to be used as their headquarters for fixing the
| tickets and - getting the bows straight" This
gentleman, while in sympathy with the Rcpub-
| licans and a leader of "true Democracy" did
not. II Is proper to saw. attend the polls. Some
| of the Camdenites did not vote. but many of
them worked hard and voted for the Republic
can candidate Some of the friends and sup
porters of the kickcrs did not turn ont. and
thus the vote of Col. Beckwith was somewhat
smaller than the usual Democratic vote cast in
the county. At the election, Bcckwith
ceived 1884 votes. and Higginbotham 9s7. Civ
| ing the candidate of the :" kickcrs" maj ority
over the Republicans and Camdcnites of 4a7.
To say the least of it, this is a very fair en-
dorsement
The following table will serve to disabl,sc the
peoples minds of the false and deceptive show
ings dcsignedly given in the Camden organs.
| We give the only fair comparison that can be
made under all the circumstances. We give
the votes for Delegates at the general election in
1852. and at the special election in 1887 at
both elections Mr.. Higginbotham ran. and there
was issue between the two parties. If the
Republicans and Camden's henchnen can find
causc to rejoice in the result of the comparison.
| they are like the ostrich which feels relief and
contentment only when its head is concealed
1 in the sand:
!. j.. ! /
| General Elcctn inISpI Elcc
| 1882. tion 1887
Charlcstown, 4S5I 406 81 2a7I 800 1873